Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

Śiva’s Boon to Viśvakarman and the Manifestation of Devī

Bhavānī/Parāśakti

Devanagari script

मनसा निर्मिताः सर्वे देवि देवादयो मया । न वृद्धिमुपगच्छन्ति सृज्यमानाः पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

manasā nirmitāḥ sarve devi devādayo mayā | na vṛddhimupagacchanti sṛjyamānāḥ punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

اے دیوی، دیوتاؤں وغیرہ یہ سب میں نے محض اپنے من سے ہی تراشے ہیں؛ مگر بار بار پیدا کیے جانے پر بھی یہ حقیقی نشوونما کو نہیں پہنچتے۔

Word by Word

• manasā: by mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (singular)

• nirmitāḥ: created / fashioned
• nirmitāḥ: Karmaṇi-kartṛ-sambandha (कर्मणि विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√mā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकर्मणि), Puṃliṅga (masc), Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana (plural)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana

• devi: O Goddess
• devi: Sambodhyā (सम्बोध्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem), Sambodhana (vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

• devādayaḥ: the gods and others
• devādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; Tatpuruṣa: deva + ādi ("gods and others")

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun/सर्वनाम), Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (negation particle/निषेध)

• vṛddhim: growth
• vṛddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• upagacchanti: attain / reach
• upagacchanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (present/लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana

• sṛjyamānāḥ: being created
• sṛjyamānāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive construction)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sṛj (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: Vartamāna-kāla karmaṇi kṛdanta (present passive participle), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla/āvṛtti-avyaya (adverb of repetition)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla/āvṛtti-avyaya (adverb of repetition)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cyclic creation (punaḥ punaḥ sarga)

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Devas
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights the limitation of mere mental or conceptual creation: repeated manifestation through the mind does not yield lasting fulfillment or true inner evolution. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, real “growth” culminates in liberation through the grace of Pati (Shiva), not through the restless cycles of the mind.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

It contrasts mind-constructed realities with a stable, grace-bearing focus. Linga worship (Saguna support leading to Nirguna realization) trains the mind to rest in Shiva rather than endlessly projecting and recreating; thus devotion becomes a means to transcend mental fabrication.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mantra-japa (especially Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with dhyana on the Linga to steady the mind; if aligned with tradition, wearing Rudraksha and applying Tripundra can support daily remembrance of Shiva and reduce repetitive mental churn.